Chapter Text
"Stop being upset, Lan Zhan," his husband bops his nose.
He has to stop himself from glaring. "I am not."
Wei Ying turns him to grab his shoulders and massage him. He doesn't realize that he is stiff. "You are stressed."
Lan Zhan sighs. If Wei Ying can detect it, then his brother must have seen it, too. "Was I that obvious?"
His husband huffs. "I know it's hard on you. The moment you saw him, you fell in love with him. With the gratitude you felt toward him, that feeling grew.
Well, not exactly the moment you saw him, you were jealous of him at first hahahahahaha. You were so funny!" Wei Ying laughs, squeezing his shoulders tighter.
"But then you knew that he was my son, and you just decided he was yours, too," he says, adoration clear in his voice.
Lan Zhan still cannot take the news. "Mn. He was mine for a while."
Wei Ying stops massaging him and turns him 180 degrees, so now he is facing his beautiful husband, who is grinning at him.
"Lan Zhan, he is still yours. Rujin is ours. The fact that Xichen-Ge asks for his hand doesn't mean he stops being ours," Wei Ying says patiently, reaching for Lan Zhan's hand and patting it.
"I've only known him for two years."
"Yet you love him so. Xichen-Ge has known him for about 2 years, minus a few hours. I bet he loves him as much as you do. Even more!"
Lan Zhan glares at him.
"Hahahahahahaha, you've got to learn how to share, Lan Zhan!" His body shakes with that laughter.
Lan Zhan has to steady his waist to prevent him from falling.
When Wei Ying's laughter subsides, he asks, "Why are you taking this so lightly?"
"Maybe because I know what loving someone means. I learned from the best," he answers, eyes full of stars.
Lan Zhan knows Wei Ying is coaxing him but it is difficult for him to accept it.
"He is only 18."
Wei Ying climbs on his lap and Lan Zhan instinctively wraps his arms around him.
"Love, we have loved each other since we were 16. You decided that you'd be mine since then. You married me even, at the Cold Pond. Not officially, but in your heart it was real."
Lan Zhan smiles as he remembers his impulsiveness back then. Well, they were different. "We were the same age. Brother is 12 years older than him."
"What is the acceptable age for love?" Wei Ying gently scolds him. "So 12 years of age difference bothers you but waiting for a dead lover for 16 years is fine? Your sense of time is fuzzy."
Lan Zhan is quiet. It is hard to win an argument with Wei Ying.
"Lan Zhan, do you know that your brother is capable of great love? He once went into seclusion because of a broken heart. It broke him, his heart, as well as his body and soul.
Xichen-Ge gets another chance at love, won't you wish for his happiness?"
Lan Zhan is still quiet. He starts listening to Wei Ying's reasons.
"Rujin is a Jin, he is petite, exactly Xichen-Ge's type. He is not an evil mastermind. In fact, we raise him so well that he becomes an outstanding young man. Isn't he good for your brother?"
Lan Zhan rests his chin on Wei Ying's shoulder. "Xiongzhang loves him so much. I can see it," he admits defeat.
"Of course. I can also see his love for Rujin. He spends so much time teaching him to grow his golden core and getting his confidence up. If that's not love, what is?"
"Mn."
"He is your brother; he has your values. If he loves Rujin half as much as you love me, I am convinced that our son will be in good hands," Wei Ying intertwines their fingers together and brings him to stand up with him.
He turns and catches his gaze. Lan Zhan is drowning in those silvers. Damn, Wei Ying is fully utilizing his eyes.
The ultimate display of love, showcased on him. It makes him weak in the knees. It makes his heart beat faster. It makes him realize he just lost their disagreement.
And he doesn't really mind.
He is saved from that pond of love by a knock on the door.
Wei Ying lets the guest in.
It is their eldest, Lan Rujin.
He is a true Lan. With a forehead ribbon decorating his forehead and a perfect posture, he bows to his parents.
Lan Zhan asks him to sit, and they all surround the table for tea.
Rujin joins them at the table for tea.
"Xian-Ge, Wangji-Ge, you call for me?"
"Do you know why we call you, Rujin?" Wei Ying asks.
It alarms Rujin. "No. Why?"
Lan Zhan is taken aback. It seems that his brother didn't say anything to Rujin before he went to seek their permission for his hand.
Wei Ying seems to catch on to this information as well. "Nothing, it's been a while since we've had tea together, just the three of us."
Rujin is nervous. "Am I in trouble?"
"Yes, you are! What have you been doing with Zewu-Jun?" accuses Wei Ying.
Rujin seems confused. "What?"
"Have you been spending too much time with him?" he prompts.
"Nothing out of the ordinary, Xian-Ge. I told you he was developing a dual fighting style and asked me to help him. Is this what it is about? Did he complain about me? I saw him coming to the Jingshi a while ago."
Rujin looks so sad. "I know I am not good enough to help him," he mutters.
"He didn't come to complain, Rujin. He thinks you have improved by much," Lan Zhan says.
"He does?" Rujin's eyes twinkle, full of stars. Full of love. Somehow, he reminds Lan Zhan of how Jin Guangyao used to look at his brother.
But this is his son, Wei Ying has raised him by himself for years, and he has recently joined him.
He has a good heart.
"He came to tell us he plans to court the person he loves," he informs their son.
Rujin looks dejected. He seems lost. "Who is it, Wangji-Ge?"
"I thought you were close with him. Did he never tell you?" Wei Ying teases.
Rujin doesn't get his teasing. He is brokenhearted.
"He has never told me anything about his romance. Xian-Ge, stop teasing me. You know how I feel about him."
"How do you feel about him?" Lan Zhan asks.
"You don't know? I thought Xian-Ge told you," he answers, looking shy.
"I want to hear it from you "
Rujin looks at him. A different look from two years ago when they first met, when he looked at him uncomfortably. This time, he looks at him with trust, with comfort that he is cared for and loved.
"Wangji-Ge, I know he is your brother. But I love him. I love him with all my heart. I've loved him since I was 7 and didn't know what love is.
I love him that I want to share a life with him. I love him that I want to make him happy. I love him that I wish to have what you have: a husband that you'd live for, a family that you'd die for."
He tears up, "I love him so much. Nobody will love him as much. I would be the only one."
That pride. He recognizes it. Nobody could love Wei Ying the way he could.
Wei Ying is always right.
This boy is so much like him.
His brother would be lucky to have his devotion.
Then he thinks of his brother. The way he suppressed his feelings for the person he has loved for two years.
How he has loved Rujin without thinking it could result in anything.
And how he had come to them a mere hour ago, asking them for Rujin's hand because he couldn't contain his love anymore.
Lan Xichen asked if he was allowed to be selfish for once and pursued what he wanted most: Lan Rujin. He didn't say anything to Rujin because he was afraid to give him hope.
His brother needs Rujin, the one who fights for his love. This time he chooses a better man, the one who is honest and will not deceive him.
The one who would live for him, and die for their future family.
"Go to my brother and tell him that he is allowed to court the one he chooses." If he feels the same way a year from now, he can marry him," Lan Zhan decides.
He feels Wei Ying squeezes his hand under the table. A sign of his approval.
Rujin raises his eyebrow. "I just told you the way I felt about him, and you asked me to tell him he got your permission to marry another?"
"Silly boy, Lan Zhan is giving you a chance to prove your love to Xichen-Ge. You got to show Zewu-Jun that he is better off with you so he wouldn't marry somebody else a year from now. Go seduce him!"
Lan Zhan panics. "No! No seducing! Talk only!"
Wei Ying slaps his thigh. "You were once young."
"I didn't seduce you when I was young," Lan Zhan glares at his husband.
"I did!" Then he laughs.
Lan Zhan's arm automatically holds his waist. "You flirted with me. It's different."
"May I be excused?" Rujin asks uncomfortably. He cannot stand these lovers' spat.
"Yes!" both answer.
"Go chase your love, Rujin. Don't give up. Confess...," Wei Yings sounds stern this time, unlike his usual banter with Rujin.
"You have a lot to talk about with him," Lan Zhan adds.
Rujin nods, excusing himself with another bow.
Once he leaves the room, Lan Zhan asks, "Is it okay to trick him about whom Brother loves?"
"His fighting spirit is only second to yours. He will fight for his love. A little deception may work wonders," Wei Ying says, his eyes filled with mischief and trust.
"Mn."
"Stop pouting!" He bops his cheeks.
"My brother and my son..."
"It is confusing," he agrees. "So, Lan Zhan, is Zewu-Jun our son now? Or is Rujin our older brother?" Wei Ying is amused.
Lan Zhan gapes at that question, and that brings another laugh from his gorgeous husband.
His eyes twinkle. "If this is the reaction you got when your son of two years finds love, how would you react when Sizhui is of age to date… or when your little princess gets a boyfriend?"
Lan Zhan whimpers. He might have to duel A-Qing's future boyfriend.
Wei Ying pretends to gasp. "Oh no! I don't like what you're thinking. I just opened a can of worms!"
Lan Zhan hugs him, whispering in his ear, "Then be there for me."
"Huh?"
"I will have problems with whoever our kids bring home. Rujin is marrying the person I love, and still I was shaken. Be with me when they all learn to love. Be with me, and be my sense of logic."
"No, Lan Zhan," Wei Ying kisses him, "I'll be with you because I love you. And all those weaknesses, I'll take them anytime."
"Mn. Mark your words," he says before he sweeps him off his feet and brings him to bed.
Love....
It is something precious.
And he hopes that each one of their children will find someone as great as his husband.
Rujin is on the way to get it.
He wishes for their happiness and for them to always have each other.
Because he has known a life without his love.
If anybody knows how valuable love is, it is him.
As he looks upon the man in his arms, he knows.
He is lucky.